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Subscribe • Advertise Thursday, October 1, 2020 Volume 8 | Issue 191

In Party Line Vote, FCC to Enable States to Lease 4.9 GHZ to Utilities, Others By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief

In a meeting rife with disagreements and connectivity snafus, the FCC Wednesday adopted rules permitting expanded use of 50 megahertz of mid-band spectrum in the 4.9 GHz (4940-4990 MHz) band. The agency majority says the band used by public safety agencies is underused. However scores of fire, police and medical representatives told the Commission the change threatens the public, especially during a pandemic.

Under the new rules, states could lease the spectrum to third parties such as utilities, FirstNet and commercial operators to boost wireless broadband, improve critical infrastructure monitoring, and facilitate public safety use cases. The band has been dedicated for public safety use for 18 years; however, only about 3.5 percent of all potential licensees use it this way because of restrictions, according to Chairman Ajit Pai.

He called the current rules governing the 4.9 GHz band flawed: “The Commission’s rules put the spectrum in a silo which led to a limited amount of niche specific equipment available for use in the band. The story of the 4.9 GHz band became one of spectrum haves, primarily in large cities such as New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle and have- nots, namely the 96.5 percent of potential licensees that have not obtained licenses for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, particularly the smaller and rural jurisdictions that cannot afford to deploy in that band.” Continue Reading

Mississippi Utilities Want Feds to Look at AT&T Claims Utility regulators in Mississippi raised concerns about AT&T meeting the Connect America broadband goals and say the carrier may even be misrepresenting its claims of success. A letter addressed to the FCC asked for “a complete compliance audit of AT&T Mississippi regarding their claims of providing service to over 133,000 locations in Mississippi as part of their obligation under the Connect American Fund II.” The letter was drafted by a three-person committee charged with regulating utility services, reports the Daily Journal.

Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley told the Daily Journal: “It is an undisputed fact that there are inconsistencies and invalid information that has been provided to the various federal agencies by AT&T. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these types of incidents have occurred, and we know that.” The incidents he refers to involve claims that service exists in areas that do not have broadband coverage. Continue Reading

LBA Group: Three Divisions and Nearly Six Decades of RF Solutions and Education

LBA Group focuses on providing solutions for the telecommunications industry. It is comprised of Lawrence Behr Associates, LBA Technology, and LBA University. Over the last 57 years, the group of companies has evolved and adopted new technologies and utilized its experience to move from radio to television to telecommunications.

LBA Group started as Lawrence Behr Associates in 1963, providing broadcast station RF consulting and maintenance services to regional clientele. “At the time, cutting-edge technology was AM broadcasting. We became one of the top AM broadcasting consulting firms in the country, and then we transitioned to FM radio when that became available,” said Behr. “We then transitioned to television, which birthed the LBA Technology division to enable us to provide various hardware solutions.”

After working in television for many years, Motorola invited LBA to get involved in the “brand new” cellular industry. “Of course, we accepted,” said Behr, which led to LBA Group planning dozens of early cellular systems in conjunction with Motorola.

Nearly a decade ago, LBA University was formed to provide education and training. According to Behr, many users complete existing online courses, and leverage tailored training packages to satisfy safety manager requirements. “We have clients that provide us with their training requirements for employees or recruitment efforts. We’ll customize training for individuals with various levels of experience. LBA manages the entire process for the client up to the standards needed for an employee to complete his or her job.” Continue Reading

FCC Moves to Free Up 100 MHz of 3.45-3.55 GHZ for 5G By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief The FCC Wednesday proposed to make 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band available for 5G deployment. The agency adopted rules to remove the secondary, non-federal allocations from the 3.3-3.55 GHz band.

The move follows last month’s announcement by the White House and Department of Defense that 100 megahertz of contiguous mid-band spectrum would be made available in the 3450-3550 MHz band for 5G commercial use while simultaneously minimizing impact to DoD operations.

During the vote, Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said since beginning the FCC job nearly seven years ago, repurposing 3.1 to 3.55 GHz from federal government to private sector use has been one of his priorities. “While clearing the band of and relocating some current non-federal users, such as radiolocation and amateur services, is important and worthwhile, the more consequential effort is to implement the agreement reached between the White House and the Department of Defense (DOD) on this key spectrum band.” Continue Reading

Industry Hails FCC Moves to Carve Out More 5G Spectrum The telecom Industry praised the FCC’s moves Wednesday to make more spectrum available for future wireless use.

NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, hailed the vote to free up 100 MHz of the 3.45- 3.55 GHz band, calling mid-band spectrum ideal because it can deliver high capacity and reliability over significant distances. “We are excited by the opportunity to use more spectrum,” said NATE President/CEO Todd Schlekeway. “More spectrum translates into more deployment opportunities for the telecommunications tower industry, while substantially advancing the nation’s critical communications capabilities by promoting the deployment of 5G.”

The Wireless Infrastructure Association also applauded the action. “The consistent leadership in promoting 5G deployment provides incentives to invest in wireless infrastructure to meet consumer needs for more and more data,” said WIA VP Government and Public Affairs Matt Mandel. “Access to spectrum is critical for speeding America toward winning the race to 5G and all the jobs and economic growth that come to the winner.” Continue Reading

September 30, 2020 at Close

West Virginia Senator Lauds Small Town’s “Forever” Needed Tower This week, Senator Joe Manchin and Joe Ford, Mayor of Iaeger, WV (population: 302) commented on a nearly completed AT&T tower, which will bring better communications to McDowell County. According to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Iaeger has lacked service “ever since cell phones became available” due to the rugged, mountainous terrain which interferes with signals.

“After years of working alongside local officials in Iaeger and McDowell County, I look forward to the completion of the new AT&T cellular tower in Iaeger that will provide unprecedented service across our coal counties,” said Manchin. “This is a huge step forward in providing West Virginians with service and connecting us with the rest of the world.”

According to Mayor Ford, “The progress made on the cell tower in Iaeger is encouraging for our community because finally having cell service will be a game-changer for our scenic river town. As Mayor of Iaeger, I’ve worked with Senator Manchin for years on this project, and I thank him for his tireless efforts to make this a reality.”

From an emergency communications perspective, one 911 volunteer calls the new tower a “Godsend.” John Sidote said: “We’ve needed that cell phone tower there forever.”

Arizona Fairway Park Residents Deny “Mulligan”* to Verizon Monopine In the middle of a forested neighborhood in Show Low, Sunquest Financial LLC and Verizon Wireless are planning to erect a 110-foot monopine, and residents object. There is a documented need for better service, high-speed internet, and overall data capacity, reported the White Mountain Independent.

The Show Low Planning and Zoning Commission members acknowledged the need for a tower during a September 22 meeting. Planning and zoning commissioner Rob Hephner said he understands that “there is a lot of fear and uncertainty around change,” but that “broadband is needed.”

According to the Independent, the proposed site in Fairway Park covers two addresses and is adjacent to a commercially zoned property. The tower will offer 4G service with co-location capabilities. Continue Reading

Telecoms Industry Shows Measured Optimism About 5G

Since the first commercial 5G services were switched on in the first half of last year, many more 5G networks have gone live throughout the world. According to the tracking by research house Omdia, by the end of Q2 this year over 70 mobile operators across more than 40 countries have launched 5G, bringing fast mobile or fixed wireless broadband connectivity to millions of consumers. Omdia forecasts that 5G is on track to reach mass market adoption faster than any previous mobile generation with close to 2 billion subscribers by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, the mobile industry has also started embracing the advanced phase of 5G, in particular the standalone mode, which will help operators realize 5G’s potential of billions of additional value through serving industrial and other business use cases, according to Telecoms.com Intelligence.

Such a background makes it a good time to take stock of 5G’s performance in its first year and start looking ahead towards what should be expected, and what should be avoided, in the years to come. To this end, Telecoms.com has recently conducted an industry survey to gauge the sentiment towards 5G so far, and to gather the industry’s views on the new technology’s successes and challenges. Discover more in the full report.

It’s Common Sense Pushing for More Broadband in California Common Sense for Kids and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are leading the charge for broadband expansion in California. According to the EFF, there are at least 50 organizations that have signed a petition urging Governor Newsom to hold an emergency session of the legislature to get broadband services up and running. The list of participants includes the San Francisco Tech Council, AARP of California, the California Center for Rural Policy, the Khan Academy, and numerous cities, politicians, and private citizens.

Even before the appearance of the COVID-19 virus, it is estimated that two million Californians, including 1.2 million students lack adequate broadband resources. Governor Newsom issued a recent executive order to establish a state goal of 100 mbps download speeds for state residents. Despite the measures taken by the government, twelve percent of California's teachers say that a majority of their students do not have reliable broadband access, especially outside of school hours. Continue Reading

South Africa Opens the Doors to 4G-5G Auction South Africa's telecom regulator said yesterday it’s inviting mobile operators to apply to bid for spectrum for 4G and next generation 5G networks beginning October 2. The regulator will take bids up until the auction begins by the end of March.

"The authority will make available 406 MHz of spectrum for the provision of mobile broadband services in South Africa," Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Chairperson Keabetswe Modimoeng announced.

The five main mobile operators in South Africa are: MTN, Vodacom, partially state-owned operator Telkom, Cell C and Rain. They will be able to bid for spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands. Reserve prices for lots in the 3.5 GHz band, key for 5G, range from US$587,688 to US$4.5 million, Modimoeng said. The closing date for interested bidders to register is December 28, while the closing date for the government's wireless open access network (WOAN) invite is March 30, 2021.

The WOAN, which will be owned by private sector players, creates a shared model for spectrum allocation rather than auctioning the resource to the highest bidder. Earlier this month, ICASA said it now plans to auction high- demand spectrum by no later than the end of March 2021, pushing back the process by three months, according to Devdiscourse.

Three Israeli Carriers Launch Commercial 5G Three major Israeli carriers, HOT Mobile. Partner Communications and Pelephone have begun providing commercial 5G services to the country following the granting of licenses by the Ministry of Communications, according to Developing Telecoms.

Communications Minister Yoaz Handel approved the operator’s new spectrum allocation last week and noted that Israel’s pace had slowed in terms of infrastructure deployment. “5G would help with returning to leadership in the telecoms sector by facilitating the advancement of industry, high-tech, smart cities and IoT technology,” Handel said.

CommsUpdate reported the three competitors wasted no time in launching their 5G offerings, with Pelephone reportedly going live with 5G mobile broadband in 150 locations including Dimona, Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, Ra’anana and Tel Aviv. The carrier claims to have installed at least one 5G mast in every major town and city across Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post. Similarly, HOT and Partner said they have 250 5G-ready sites in the country with plans to increase their deployment “on a regular basis.”

State Wireless Associations Tee It Up “Live” in October

Virginia Wireless Association (VAWA) Golf Outing: October 15

Location: Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA Social: Networking at Kingsmill Resort - 6:00 - 7:30pm (held outside) Benefits: Warriors4Wireless Register: Individuals: $275. Foursome: $1,100, Sponsorships available

Statement: “VAWA teams Up With NATE to Support W4W. Money raised at the tournament will be donated to Warriors4Wireless. For your safety, we will comply with Governor Northam's Executive Orders regarding COVID-19. The number of players has been reduced from 144 to 128 for the purpose of creating fewer back-ups and speeding up playing time. As of 9-30-20, there are eight foursomes still available. Join us for outside social networking under the big tent,” said VAWA President, Alex Beiro, Jr. Continue Reading

Wireless Water Cooler Takes a Break With Commissioner Brendan Carr

Hosts Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO of WIA, and Inside Towers Managing Editor Jim Fryer got to spend a few minutes with tower-climbing FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr recently for the fourth edition of the Wireless Water Cooler.

Carr discussed the latest happenings in wireless workforce development and how the industry needs to double its workforce to get the necessary jobs accomplished over the next few years. Adelstein asked the Commissioner about the effects the recent 9th Circuit Court decision has had on buildout schedules and how the industry has responded to the new rulings favoring wireless development.

Having just climbed a 1,700-foot broadcast tower in Florida, Carr was eager to share his "top of the world" experience and express his admiration for the crews that do it on a daily basis. Hear this and much more on our upcoming podcast, available on our website, Amazon Music, Spotify and iTunes.

Recent Releases Latest posting from the FCC 9/29/20 Click Here

Outdoor Small Cell and 5G - CommScope's "One Stop Shop" Solutions Tuesday, October 6, 1–2 PM CST

Network densification through 4G/5G small cells faces many ecosystem obstacles, from technical hardware variations to aesthetics.

Join us for an interactive presentation on how CommScope’s Metro Cell solutions make small cell deployments faster, easier, and support a wide range of ecosystem requirements, including current 4G technologies, 5G/mmWave, and preparations for future technologies. Click here to register.

Sitetracker: ABM Content Manager, Remote

Sitetracker is looking for a prolific and talented content creator to help it continuously create and deliver against their ABM/ABS plans. Starting with a great baseline of pre-existing materials and insights, this person will help them to continue to write and produce engaging pieces of content to fuel programs across multiple channels for multiple teams.

This person must be a strong communicator, an excellent writer, lover of learning, have a knack and love for writing with a purpose. They will need to be interested in and keen to help us continue to make a big impact in transformative industries like telecommunications, utilities, smart cities, and alternative energy.

Ideally, this person is a technically savvy wordsmith who is collaborative and analytical whilst being empathetic and driven. For more details and to apply click here.

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Managing Editor: Jim Fryer Washington Bureau Chief: Leslie Stimson Business Editor: John Celentano Reporter: Keara M. Piekanski Marketing & Advertising: Megan Reed Creative & Advertising: Cara Aston Advertising: Phil Cook

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